| Citation |
BC.769.084
17-20 Jul 1769:2301 (111)
The State Dancers. (See Boston Chronicle page 89.)
In the name of wonder, how came our friend Sheellahnahgig
to leave so many of my good friends out of his list of
Political Dancers? particularly L--d E--t, and Polonius,
who though he is gone to France to learn a new dance, shall
have no other music than mine. But it is above all
unpardonable in Sheellahnahgig to have left out my old
acquaintance, schoolfellow, and intimate friend, L--d R--d,
who has so often danced to my pipe, both in Spain and
France, as well as in England, and is remarkably fond of
Scotch airs and reels; especially of the Stuart's Rant, and
the old lilt of John Patterson's Mare goes Foremost, (lately
modalized) which I have adapted to the tunes, and picked out
for his L--d--p's own private use: who, though but an
indifferent scraper of catgut himself, yet has a tolerable
ear for the performances of others.
The D--e of G--n being the sole master of the ceremonies,
was set at by L--d R--d, with very great anxiety for some
considerable time; who finding his g--e inclining to lead
him to the left about, with one of his own shuffles, and the
side step, immediately bauled out, that unless his place was
changed in the set, he would directly call out for a
Corsican dance, or dance no longer to the D--e of G--n's
frolick, this set the whole company in great confusion,
particularly the person in the middle of the ring, who
frowned prodigiously, at the mention of a Corsican dance:
But upon the D--e of G--'s turning L--d R--d to another
side, the dance went on as before; only that L--d W--h went
out of his turn with all possible eagerness at the D--e of
B--d, though also out of his turn and dancing, and therefore
improper; upon which his g--e directly crossed over, figured
in right and left and led up to the top, and then insisted
that these l--ds should change sides. The person in the
middle upon this looked towards me for the nod of
approbation (tho' I was at no small distance) which I
immediately gave my usual way, by a hollow groan of my great
drones, and two or three grunts of my chanter, and then L--d
R--d went to the north side, and L--d W--h to the south; L-
-d S--e having totally lost the use of his legs.
L--d R--d being an odd man, and having no constant
partner, seemed to dance but very aukwardly, owing, I
suppose, to his passion for contre dances. In going down
the dance, however, his L--p set at old Polonius, and
shewing him some French steps, recommended a young pupil to
be taken in training. Polonius simpered a compliance; But
in a twinkling altering his mind, he shuffled to the left
about with a side step, and gave L--d R--d the slip, which
made his l--d--p look very morose, and swear that he would
never dance with old Polonius again. Some of the company
being fond of novelty, began to revive an enquiry after the
new dance imported from Corsica, as first mentioned by L--d
R--d; but his L--d, after changing sides recanted directly,
and cried it down into disrepute; and then making the signal
to R--y to foot it stoutly to B--ke and B--e and to shew
them the figure led down (which he did so loud as to be
distinctly heard by the whole house) it was immediately
over-ruled and laid aside.
It was about this time of the ball that the D--e of G--n,
the master of the ceremonies, began to look sulky, and was
in the dumps; and seeing so many shuffling their own way,
and not inclined to dance the figure he had given, commanded
B--w, his political p--p, to shut the subscription books
immediately, so to remain for several days, until he should
know the sense of twenty four city dancers, from whom he had
great expectations; and then, with an imperious and arrogant
tone of voice (which made poor B--w stare with a doubtful
pannick, as if he had been at his old trade again of vending
prohibited goods) ordered this hireling subaltern to snuff
the candles, clear the passages, shew the company down
stairs, and him to the stool room. [signed] The Master Piper
of Wales.
|